Do you have any training secrets?

[pauljordan]

OK, I sat thru my Tech guys training class last week and he had a guy that would try to follow along with him on every demonstration he was doing. Very difficult language barrier and by the time my techie was on the 2nd or 3rd step of the demo, the guy would interrupt and ask "How did you do that?".

The problem I see is that the instructor is sitting or standing at a computer and moving his cursor all over and typing away and no matter how well you vocalize what it is you're doing, someone isn't going to get it.

My boss mentioned a switch that would shut off all monitors on the students computers so they couldn't try and follow along until they're supposed to. I've also heard about Smart Technologies White boards that are basically computer screens on steroid that the instructor interacts with.

What do you guys use? Any success stories?? Tricks of the trade??

Is there an echo in here??

Paul Jordan
Anchorage, AK

[Robert.Hall]

Do not give the studentents/trainees computers. Use a handout that details
everything in the lesson and allows the trainee to take some reference material with them.

I myself often do not remember everything that I have been shown over the years.
I do however have a decent sized pile of reference materials that I can look through when I want to recall something that I was shown.

Your best weapon for training is a decent handout. Can also post it on an interoffice
network and/or email it out to the trainees.

[pauljordan]

We do the training manuals (btw, I'm a reseller sales/tech guy) but they expect to be using the software in the classroom. I'm definitely looking at the switch to turn off the monitors while teaching for now, that white board will take some arm twisting on the boss to come up with the $2k. Looks quite interesting though, I know the AutoCad instructor at the University is using one.

[Ogre]

We do the training manuals (btw, I'm a reseller sales/tech guy) but they expect to be using the software in the classroom. I'm definitely looking at the switch to turn off the monitors while teaching for now, that white board will take some arm twisting on the boss to come up with the $2k. Looks quite interesting though, I know the AutoCad instructor at the University is using one.
How about using a projector??? Let the hands on be at a different time...Give the hand out, do your pres, then give them some hands on time...

[jrebennack]

We use a screen capture software, namely Camtasia Studio, along with handouts that walk a user through the various functions we are teaching.

The bonus of making movies (with voice-over) for training is that the user can go back and look at them at any time and also they are easy to change. The user can also pause, rewind, skip ahead, etc. They are good to teach process, though for concept, you may still have to have a flowchart on handout to explain how to use XREFs, for instance.

Here is how we have it set up. The new employees get a 6 page handout with the file naming and object naming convention and the various charts and file location information. Page 1 of that handout shows how to get to the training movies (a link on the desktop).

This allows us to then tell the new employee to follow along for movies 1-4 (opening LDT, starting a project and drawing) and then check back with whoever is overseeing there training. So on and so forth.

It works and is far less training time and money. No special computers, no herding everyone in a room, no instructor.

[Robert.Hall]

We use a screen capture software, namely Camtasia Studio, along with handouts that walk a user through the various functions we are teaching.

The bonus of making movies (with voice-over) for training is that the user can go back and look at them at any time and also they are easy to change. The user can also pause, rewind, skip ahead, etc. They are good to teach process, though for concept, you may still have to have a flowchart on handout to explain how to use XREFs, for instance.

Here is how we have it set up. The new employees get a 6 page handout with the file naming and object naming convention and the various charts and file location information. Page 1 of that handout shows how to get to the training movies (a link on the desktop).

This allows us to then tell the new employee to follow along for movies 1-4 (opening LDT, starting a project and drawing) and then check back with whoever is overseeing there training. So on and so forth.

It works and is far less training time and money. No special computers, no herding everyone in a room, no instructor.


I like that idea. I might have to try it out. Then the employee could have a chance to ask questions after looking over the training material.

Not really giving anyone a fish here, the employee can go fishing.

[jrebennack]

It also works for referance for employees that might do a particular function very often. And you teach process and standards at the same time.

[pauljordan]

That's all fine and good if they're your employees. These are customers we're trying to train on a product like Architectural Desktop. They expect hands on training.

[thomas.stright]

That's all fine and good if they're your employees. These are customers we're trying to train on a product like Architectural Desktop. They expect hands on training.Hands on is great. If the Instructor can control their monitors. If not, People start to wander...

[Statler]

We do the training manuals (btw, I'm a reseller sales/tech guy) but they expect to be using the software in the classroom. I'm definitely looking at the switch to turn off the monitors while teaching for now, that white board will take some arm twisting on the boss to come up with the $2k. Looks quite interesting though, I know the AutoCad instructor at the University is using one.
Paul,

Would you be able to setup the lecture room so that students need to turn through 180 deg. or at least 90 deg. whilst giving your demonstrations / white board work. That way temptation for students to try and follow on their P.C. will be reduced.

Richard

[david_ellis]

For the monitors, why dont you just hook them up to a power strip you can control. when your ready for them to try it just turn the power on to the monitors.

[sturner]

Robert is right have handouts they can reference them later.

tips:
be prepared
be proficient in the presentation, go thru it many times before teaching.
be ready for something to go wrong. in other words know some work arounds.
if asked a question you don't know tell them 'i don't know let me get back to you' it looks better than looking for it during class and stopping the flow.
have a sign in sheet
post you handouts and/or video on your company server.
i allow some discussion during the class if it will help the class. but cut it short when it is detrimental to the class. you will have critics, ignore them they will be gone soon enough.
use e-mail to inform staff of the class time and topics. don't forget to include management. keep them up on what you will be teaching and encourage them to drop in. it shows the staff that the company is interested and is behind you.
keep the classes short we do lunch classes company buys lunch in exchange for not charging the time to overhead.
-good luck!

[rkmcswain]

keep the classes short we do lunch classes company buys lunch in exchange for not charging the time to overhead.


We have historically done that, but are considering moving to morning classes during "on the clock" hours. Too many current attendees showing up just for the free lunch... :roll:

[sturner]

We have historically done that, but are considering moving to morning classes during "on the clock" hours. Too many current attendees showing up just for the free lunch... :roll:
i got that at first but i ask in the e-mail announcement to reply to be included in the food order. those that were to lazy to respond were not happy when denied food. now i have just those that want to be there. but there is always one or two. :)

[The VLG]

This isn't a training secret, but how about dealing with someone that keeps interrupting?
I'm on a course at the moment & there is a guy that keeps interrupting with trivial questions. like how do I change my screen colour? At this lvl he should know this sort of stuff.

[jaberwok]

This isn't a training secret, but how about dealing with someone that keeps interrupting?
I'm on a course at the moment & there is a guy that keeps interrupting with trivial questions. like how do I change my screen colour? At this lvl he should know this sort of stuff.

If you're one ot the students, get everyone else in the class to give him filthy looks.

[The VLG]

If you're one ot the students, get everyone else in the class to give him filthy looks.
:lol: the only problem is that they are at the front. So he's blissfully unaware of the poison looks I'm giving him

[redWORKX]

Problem questioner's always get my standard "off topic questions will be addressed either after the scheduled meeting or via email". Either way you can track exactly how much time someone is wasting (or honestly is under qualified).

[jaberwok]

:lol: the only problem is that they are at the front. So he's blissfully unaware of the poison looks I'm giving him

But, if the tutor notices that everyone is annoyed, he should feel bound to take the guy aside for words.
Load groans might help too.

[pauljordan]

My current trainer and the boss here say that when you have someone like that who is slowing everyone else down, it's best to take them aside and offer thier money back and recommend a more basic class. Better to have one student a little PO'ed than have a class of 10 thinking they wasted thier money.

The class that started this thread only had 2 paying customers and me in it to learn to teach the class. It was worth holding just so I could see the format used to teach it. The problem student I had held us back by at least a day and a half to two days.

[Doodlemusmaximus]

I've had the same problem with students before and the way round it i found was to break the lesson down into bite size pieces, that way they'll not get to lost in the process. Think it goes back to my days in HM Forces this one everything was done in small increments so that everyone (well almost everyone) was moving at the same pace.

[pauljordan]

In this case, I'll give you an example of how bad this student was.

If the instructor was demonstrating how to drink coffee:

Instructor: OK, eyes on me, it's demonstration time, then you'll have a chance to try this.
(Instructor picks up coffee cup, places it to his lips)

(meanwhile, student sees instructors hand touch the cup and mimics him by looking at his own cup and moving his hand to it, then looks back at instructor who already has his cup to his lips)
Student: Wait, wait, how did the cup get from the table to your lips?


That is NO exageration my friends. Just apply it to ANY command you're trying to teach in an Architectural Desktop class and that's how the week went.

[rkmcswain]

Student: Wait, wait, how did the cup get from the table to your lips?
That is NO exageration my friends.

Yep, been there.....

Instructor: ...use the grips to make sure the two endpoints meet.....
Student (long-time AutoCAD user): What the !*@# are grips?

[jaberwok]

Yep, been there.....

Instructor: ...use the grips to make sure the two endpoints meet.....
Student (long-time AutoCAD user): What the !*@# are grips?

:lol:

Yep. Been there, too.

[Robert.Hall]

In this case, I'll give you an example of how bad this student was.



Wow! I would hate to be in your class. Not every student is equal.
Students like that require a personal session outside of class.
Do not disrupt the other students.

Anyrate, it is wrong to judge people. How can you teach someone if you are
not going to give them a chance?